HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2373
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 05/14/99 - 0000Z (UTC) 05/17/99
Daily Status Report as of 137/0000Z
1.0 ACTIVITIES SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
1.1 Completed Five Sets of STIS/CCD 7949 (CCD Dark and Bias Monitor --
Cont. to June 99)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to conduct a
CCD dark calibration and a bias monitoring program. It was also scheduled
to track the growth of hot pixels on the CCD in general and within the
various target acquisition apertures specifically. The observations were
executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.2 Completed Eight Sets of WF/PC-2 7713 (WF/P-2 Cycle 7 Supplemental
Darks pt3/3)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make supplemental dark calibration images.
This dark calibration program obtains three dark frames every day to
provide data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels.
The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were noted.
1.3 Completed Ten Sets of STIS/CCD 8406 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS
Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation V)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make high
galactic latitude observations taken in parallel with the prime science
observations as part of a POMS proposal. This is a STIS non-scripted
parallel Condition V proposal. The observations were completed as
scheduled with no anomalies.
1.4 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8470 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS
Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation V)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make high
galactic latitude observations taken in parallel with the prime science
observations as part of a POMS proposal. This is a STIS non-scripted
parallel Condition VI proposal. The observations were completed as
scheduled with no anomalies.
1.5 Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/MA1 7410 (Deep UV Imaging of the Hubble Deep
Field)
The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was
used to make ultraviolet observations of Hubble Deep Field HDF-STIS-P. The
observations will extend the searches for Lyman break galaxies to B~ 29,
two magnitudes fainter than possible with the existing HDF data and more
than four magnitudes fainter than the current limit of ground-based
spectroscopy. The observations were executed as scheduled with anomalies.
1.6 Completed Ten Sets of WF/PC-2 8090 (POMS Test Proposal: WF-II
Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation)
The WF/PC-2 was used in the parallel mode to make some low galactic
latitude archive observations. The program will be used to take parallel
images of random areas of the sky. The observations were executed as
scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.7 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 7673 (STIS MAMA Sensitivity and Focus Monitor)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD/MA1) was used to make
observations of standard star AGK+81D266 in order to perform a MAMA
sensitivity and focus monitoring program. This is to monitor sensitivity
of each MAMA grating mode to detect any change due to contamination or
other causes. A wavelength calibration image was also taken. The
observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.8 Completed WF/PC-2 6543 (Emission-Line & Continuum Imaging of the
Gravitational Lens System 2016+112)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make emission line and continuum imaging of
the gravitational lens system 2016+112. The proposed observations will
provide crucial data required for a theoretical model. The observations
were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.9 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8172 (STIS Deep DLA Imaging Survey II)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make deep
observations of the quasar/alpha galaxies Q2016+1626, Q2116-358 and
Q2206-1958. The HST imaging, together with ground-based spectroscopy, will
unify absorption-line studies and faint galaxy imaging studies, providing a
comprehensive picture of the history of assembly, star formation, gas
consumption, and chemical enrichment in the Damped Lyman-Alpha galaxies.
The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.10 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8436 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup
Parallel Archive Proposal II)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make archive observations parallel to the
prime science observations as part of a POMS test proposal. This is a POMS
test proposal designed to simulate scientific plans. The observations were
completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported.
1.11 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 7281 (Snapshot Survey of the B2
Sample of Radio Galaxies)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make snapshot survey observations of the B2
sample radio galaxies B2+1430+25, B2+1322+36 and B2+1422+26. This program
is aimed to answer the following key questions: How common are extended
nuclear disks? What is their orientation and morphology? How common are
optical jets? The observations were executed as scheduled, and no
anomalies were noted.
1.12 Completed NIC/1/2/3 7423 (CRL2688: The Rosetta Stone for the
Evolution of AGB Red Giants into Bipolar Planetary Nebulae)
The Near Infrared Camera (Cameras One, Two and Three) was used to
make observations of NGC-3921. This object is considered to be the Rosetta
Stone for the evolution of AGB red giants into bipolar planetary nebulae.
This detailed study promises to lead to major breakthroughs in our
understanding of late stellar evolution. A wave length calibration image
was also taken. The observations were completed as planned, and no
problems were reported.
1.13 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8028 (STIS GTO Observations)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
make GTO of stars in galaxy NGC-3395. The solar blind and long slit
capabilities of STIS were used to investigate the population of hot stars
in this galaxy. A wavelength calibration image was also taken. The
observations were completed as planned, and no problems were reported.
1.14 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 7470 (A Snapshot Survey of Galactic
Globular Clusters)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make snap shot survey observations of the
crowded center of the galactic globular clusters NGC-5946 and NGC-4590.
The resulting color-magnitude diagram will include all stars down to about
one magnitude below the main-sequence turnoff. The observations were
completed as scheduled, and no problems were reported.
1.15 Completed STIS/CCD 8438 (CCD Saturated Photometry)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make
observations of star HD128620. This program will explore the capability
of the STIS/CCD to support high S/N time-series photometry well in excess
of the S/N=10000 level expected from counting 10^8 electrons per spectrum
before saturation. A wavelength calibration image was also taken. The
observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.16 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8053 (WF/PC-2 Cycle-7 Earth Flats --
Part II)
The WF/PC-2 was used to take Earth flat calibration images. This
proposal obtains sequences of Earth streak flats to construct high quality
flat fields for the WF/PC-2 filter set. The observations were executed as
scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.17 Completed WF/PC-2 6458 (Imaging of QSO Host Galaxies at Z >2)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the QSO/host galaxy
2244-010. QSOs of redshift larger than 2 have been resolved with
~arcsecond resolution on 4m-class ground-based telescopes. Both line and
continuum flux have been detected over a few arcseconds, but the nature of
the extended emission, and its relation to the nuclear energy source is
unclear. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies
were noted.
1.18 Completed STIS/CCD 8226 (Discerning the Origins of Blue Stragglers:
Masses and Rotation Rates)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to study the
blue stragglers in globular cluster NGC-104-BSS. Conventional wisdom holds
that the masses of Blue Straggler Stars in globular clusters are
significantly larger than the turnoff mass. A wavelength calibration
observation was also taken. The observations were executed as scheduled,
and no anomalies were noted.
1.19 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 7437 (Understanding High-Redshift and
Starburst Galaxies: A UV Spectroscopic Survey of O-Stars in the SMC)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
make ultraviolet spectrographic observations of galaxy AV95. The data from
this survey, of importance in many areas of astrophysics, will immediately
be made public as no proprietary period is requested. A wavelength
calibration image was also taken. The observations were executed as
scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.20 Completed WF/PC-2 8059 (POMS Test Proposal: WF-2 Targeted Parallel
Archive Proposal)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations in parallel with the prime
science observations. The parallel opportunities available with WF/PC-2 in
the neighborhood of bright galaxies are treated in a slightly different way
from the normal pure parallels. Local group galaxies offer the opportunity
for a closer look at young stellar populations. The observations were
completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported.
1.21 Completed STIS/CCD 7480 (The Changing Wind Structure of the
Erupting SMC WN/LBV System HD5980)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make
observations of the changing wind structure in the erupting SMC, Wolf-Rayet
WN/LBV, binary star HD5980. This is perhaps similar to the Great Eruption
in Eta Carinae. A wavelength calibration image was also taken. The
observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.22 Completed WF/PC-2 7504 (Calibration of Nearby Type Ia Supernovae as
Standard Candles: The Next Three-Year Step)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of parent galaxy NGC-4527
in order to determining its Cepheid distance. This is to continue the
calibration of the Type 1a supernova as standard candles. The observations
were completed as planned, and no porblems were reported.
1.23 Completed STIS/CCD 7615 (Determination of the Mass Function of a
Globular Cluster Through Gravitational Microlensing)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make
gravitational microlensing observations of the large globular cluster
NGC-6656 located in Sagittarius in order to study its mass function.
Gravitational microlensing offers a unique and direct method of determining
the masses of stars and other compact objects down to planetary masses. A
bias and dark calibration observations were also taken. The observations
were completed as planned with no problems.
1.24 Completed WF/PC-2 8085 (Imaging of High Redshift Starburst Galaxies
in the Light of Lyman-Alpha)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make Lyman-Alpha wavelength observations of
the high redshifted starbursting galaxy Q1623+268. The observations were
completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported.
1.25 Completed WF/PC-2 7282 (A Continuing Snapshot Survey for Compact
Stellar Groups and Clusters around Wolf-Rayet Stars)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the Wolf-Rayet star
WR144 as part of a continuing snapshot survey of compact stellar groups and
clusters. The newly imaged clusters allow us to accurately determine the
distances, luminosities, and ages of the WR members. The observations were
executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY
2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions : 24
Successful : 24
Scheduled Reacquisitions : 16
Successful : 16
2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled : 54
Successful : 54
2.3 Operations Notes:
The operations team is conducting operations from the SAMS back-up
facility, using the PRS ground system. At 136/2318Z, the PRS-2 system was
switched to when the tape drives on PRS-1 began experiencing tape drive
problems.
The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared six times per ROP SR-1.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
/DMH